Fishing at Bemar Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Bemar Lake sits within Thunder Bay District in Ontario. The surroundings are mixed forest. At some 3.03 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The perimeter is close to 28 km, and wind can be flat in one arm and rough in the next. Few waters listed in Thunder Bay District are bigger. Atikokan is the closest town at 73 km. Further out sit Grand Marais (76 km) and Ely (88 km). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Bemar Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt and bloater. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Bemar Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -16°C in January up to 18°C in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Time your trip to Bemar Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Elevation Lake at 1.5 km is the nearest alternative. For Bemar Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.